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I've done it for years and I actually build credit card spending into my budget.

I have an extremely detailed spreadsheet. One the first sheet, I have 3 columns - budget, actual, variance (which is just col 1 - col 2).

On sheet 2, I have a 3 columns for each month - total, checking, credit card. Each spending category has its own budget and includes spending from checking and credit card. When I spend something from checking, that amount goes into the checking category as an amount and gets added to it each time I spend something. For credit card, amount goes in that column for the category. The 3rd column is a total column which adds to the two together.

That total column is pulled into sheet 1 as a reference so that actual expenses are measured against budget for each category. So on sheet 2, I actually have a running total by category for every expenditure in checking which ties to my checkbook and bank account (making it easy to reconcile). I have a total at the bottom for everything I spent on my credit card so I always know what my totals are for each month that I spent on the credit card. And because both of these are part of my actuals and are measured against budget, I never overspend for any category.

If something comes up, I've got a few months of saving I can pull from. That's why I can use my credit card.

Looks like you are doing your planning and have things under control. The money sitting in your bank account a few extra days doesn't earn much interest at all with the rates paid out currently so that shouldn't be much of a deterrent to use debit/cash instead of credit cards. If it isn't broke, it doesn't need fixin though. Hope it continues to work for you. Good luck!

Here is my question to some of you who don't use credit cards - why are debit cards any safer? I guess you can be declined if you don't have money. However, if you only spend money when you have it, why can't this be done with either debit or credit card?

Maybe a debit card really does keep you from purchasing stuff if you don't have money. I don't know. Either way, you still have to know how much you have so whether you do it on a credit card or debit card, I don't see the difference.

As an aside, our economy has tanked because we can't keep spending on credit. Our economy has become a service based industry based on spending money using credit. Let's be honest - if our GDP was actually based on spending money we (all Americans) actually had rather than credit, our economy would be much smaller than it is.

Here is my question to some of you who don't use credit cards - why are debit cards any safer? I guess you can be declined if you don't have money. However, if you only spend money when you have it, why can't this be done with either debit or credit card?

Maybe a debit card really does keep you from purchasing stuff if you don't have money. I don't know. Either way, you still have to know how much you have so whether you do it on a credit card or debit card, I don't see the difference.

As an aside, our economy has tanked because we can't keep spending on credit. Our economy has become a service based industry based on spending money using credit. Let's be honest - if our GDP was actually based on spending money we (all Americans) actually had rather than credit, our economy would be much smaller than it is.

Benefits. I used my points to get free 2 Ipads this year......some credit cards will allow you to get cash back....roughly 2%. They are also very useful to summarize your expenses every month and at year end to see where you have been spending your money.

Benefits. I used my points to get free 2 Ipads this year......some credit cards will allow you to get cash back....roughly 2%. They are also very useful to summarize your expenses every month and at year end to see where you have been spending your money.

they are not free and 2% is being raked in some place else. they are going to get their money plus some. and a spreadsheet works well and is more frequently seen than your bill.

well that goes back to the discipline thing. I don't need the debit card to tell me how much I have. I know that is helpful for some people but it's irrelevant to me as to which card I use. So I use the credit card to take advantage of what they offer me.

they are not free and 2% is being raked in some place else. they are going to get their money plus some. and a spreadsheet works well and is more frequently seen than your bill.

As long as you pay off your balance every month, you owe nothing to the credit card company except an annual fee. When you can travel for free or use points to get an ipad for free, then the benefits far outweigh the cost of an annual fee - the only price you will ever pay for the use of a credit card if you pay off the balance every month.

well that goes back to the discipline thing. I don't need the debit card to tell me how much I have. I know that is helpful for some people but it's irrelevant to me as to which card I use. So I use the credit card to take advantage of what they offer me.

it is not just that it tells me how much i have, but it hurts a little worse to use it knowing that it is real cash in my posession. it help curb impulse buys. if i used cash in hand, it hurts even worse. that is one of the ploys cc's use, make buying stuff painless.

As long as you pay off your balance every month, you owe nothing to the credit card company except an annual fee. When you can travel for free or use points to get an ipad for free, then the benefits far outweigh the cost of an annual fee - the only price you will ever pay for the use of a credit card if you pay off the balance every month.

they are not free and 2% is being raked in some place else. they are going to get their money plus some. and a spreadsheet works well and is more frequently seen than your bill.

The only thing I pay a credit card company is their annual fee. I can't remember the last time I paid them any interest. Plus I already use Quicken and have multiple spreadsheets for all sort of financial information I track.